Pioneer Bank chooses Thomas Amell as president and CEO

Pioneer Bank announced today that Thomas Amell will replace President and CEO Eileen Bagnoli when she retires next year.

Amell will start at Pioneer in August as president and chief operating officer as Bagnoli continues as the chief executive until mid-2013.

“I am very excited to work with Tom over the course of the next year to ensure a smooth leadership transition and feel strongly that the mission and values of Pioneer as a community bank are perfectly aligned with the ideals that Tom has represented throughout his life and professional career,” Bagnoli said in a statement.

Amell will be leaving his post at SEFCU as president of commercial services. Previous to that, Amell worked at First Niagara Bank as the Eastern NY regional president. Before his time at First Niagara, he was a senior vice president and New York business banking director for Citizens Bank.

He received an associate’s degree from Hudson Valley Community College, a bachelor’s degree from Siena College, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University at Albany.

“His dedication to serving the individuals, families, businesses and municipalities of the Capital Region, as well as his abiding commitment to community service, uniquely qualified him for this opportunity to be Pioneer’s next leader,” Don Fane, who chaired the Bank’s search committee, said in the statement.

Pioneer Bank has $775 million in assets with 16 branch offices in the Capital Region.